Belfast

South Belfast UDA A Battalion

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The UDA memorial garden is just off Sandy Row, near the John McMichael Centre.

One board (shown fourth) reproduces a mural (see 2005 M02408) from nearby Rowland Way, which was itself a repaint of an earlier (see 1995 M01183 and 2001 M01518) mural, though updated to note the “distinguished service” of Samuel Curry.

The same thirteen names also appear on the “roll of honour” plaque in the garden. The South Belfast UDA/UFF commander John McMichael was killed by an IRA car bomb in 1987. In addition to organising a team of assassins in the 70s and 80s, he founded a Political Research Group and wrote two documents proposing an independent Northern Ireland. Joe Bratty was killed, along with “Raymie” Elder, by the IRA in 1994 (WP).

City Way, Sandy Row, south Belfast

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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The image of the McMichael board, added later, is from 2013. The same board was mounted in Lisburn: One Man, One Love, One Country.
Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney

United Irishmen 1791-1798

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Images from inside Kelly’s Cellars in Belfast city centre, with portraits of Henry Joy McCracken and Theobald Wolfe Tone. ‘The Man From God Knows Where’ is Thomas Russell, an Anglican from Cork who joined the British navy and then the cause of the United Irishmen and the Emmet rebellion. He was executed for treason after the rising in October, 1803 (video of the full poem by Florence Wilson | Irish News account of his death).

There is also a “blue plaque” on the exterior wall.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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Always British

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Cluan Place is a single street in east Belfast separated from (nationalist) Short Strand by a “peace” line. The mural features an unusual combination of Union Flag and Ulster Banner. For a history of Cluan Place, see Out Of The Ashes. “5 people shot – houses burnt – houses bombed. 20 families intimidated out by Sinn Fein/IRA. Still loyalist. No surrender.”

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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A Few Of The Many

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“Lest we forget. This memorial is dedicated to the men of the Willowfield Battalion, East Belfast regiment, Ulster Volunteer Force, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918. It stands on the site of the old Willowfield unionist hall, opened by Sir Edward Carson on May 16th 1913, as a drill hall and rifle range for Willowfield UVF. It was from this hall volunteers marched to Balmoral, from there to the green fields of France, some never to return. Sleep on, dear sons of Ulster, ’til the trumpet sounds again.”

“In memory of our fallen comrades Ulster Volunteer Force East Belfast.”

“In solemn remembrance we salute the brave men of Ulster. Without favour or reward they fought militant republicanism on its own terms. Their courage, dedication and sacrifice we will remember for evermore. Joe Long, Robert (Squeak) Seymour, Charlie Logan, Trevor King, Billy Miller, Tommy McDowell, Joe Shaw, Colin Caldwell, Harris Boyle, Wesley Somerville, Geoffrey Freeman, David Swanson, Sinclair Jonhston, Robin Jackson. This is a few of the many. For God and Ulster.”

This is an improved image over 2006’s A Few Of The Many. Cherryville Street, Belfast.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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The Untold Story

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“In August 1971 many Protestants fled their homes as the IRA launched a bitter sectarian attack on Protestant communities throughout Belfast. The loyal people of Liverpool held out the hand of friendship in our hour of need up to 2000 terrified women and children escaped from burning homes to live in the safety of Liverpool. That act of friendship by the people of Liverpool will never be forgotten. Liverpool – Belfast a bond never broken. No surrender ” With newspaper reports by the Belfast Telegraph and Liverpool Echo. Sponsored by the East Belfast Historical And Cultural Society.

Canada Street, Belfast

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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East Belfast Volunteers

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This mural and its accompanying plaques, at the mouth of Canada Street, commemorate WWI and celebrate the nine Victoria Crosses won by members of the 36th (Ulster) Division “For valour”: Cather, McFadzean, Bell, Quigg, Emerson, De Wind, Seaman, Knox, and Harvey; the final plaque is McCrae’s In Flanders’ Fields. The main mural features insignia of more than thirty units of types ranging from machine gunners to vets.

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Copyright © 2008 Peter Moloney
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